Tool for removal of valve lifters



p 1959 w. F. DERBY 1 2,883,740

TOOL FOR REMOVAL OF VALVE LIFTERS Filed Aug. 5, 1954 \NVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice TOOL FOR REMOVAL OF VALVE LIFTERS William F. Derby, Racine, Wis.

Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 447,956

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-213) This invention relates to a tool adapted to remove a hydraulic valve lifter from an automotive engine block and it more specifically relates to a tool with a circumferential segmented lip adapted to engage within a groove encircling the interior wall of the cartridge-like body of a valve lifter, the lip comprising portions of radially expandable and retractable circumferential segments that encircle and are movable longitudinally with respect to a' wedge, such that movement in one direction causes the segments to be urged radially outwardly and movement in the opposite direction permits the segments to be radially retracted, and which tool includes a bias urging the segments radially inwardly when expanded and an additional bias that urges the segments and Wedge relatively to one another to cause radial expansion of the segments.

It has become common, in the construction of modern automotive engines, to employ hydraulic valve lifters for the operation of the push rods that give automation to the engine valves. Such hydraulic valve lifters automatically maintain zero valve lash under all operating conditions, thus ensuring proper valve action and the elimination of noise and undue wear that often occurs where plain tappets are employed. The usual hydraulic valve lifter comprises a circular cylindrical cartridge closed at the bottom and open at the top that is seated for reciprocal movement in a portion of the engine block 2,883,740 4 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 force is effected without disrupting the connection between tool' and lifter.

The lip presented to the groove is a part of a set of circumferentially arranged radially expandable quill members that are movable to expanded position by the relatively longitudinal motion of a wedge encircled by the quill members. A retraction of the wedge in the opposite direction permits the quill members to be radially retracted, thus adapting the tool for a ready insertion within the cartridge of a valve lifter, whereby a subsequent radial expansion of the quill members, effected by an easily executed movement of the wedge, provides the necessary firm engagement between the tool and the lifter that readies the apparatus for application of the lifting forces that draw the tool upwardly for extracting the lifter.

As a beneficial aid for a technician removing lifters, the invention provides for the automatic radial retraction of the lip formed by the quill members upon an insertion within a lifter. The simplicity of use of the tool is accordingly greatly enhanced. Upon bringing the tool and engagement of the lip within the lifter groove is readily made.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool for making possible quick and easy removal of a hydraulic valve lifter that has become frozen within an engine beneath the lower end of a push rod. The valve lifter is reciprocated by a cam working against its underside, and it houses an upwardly facing cupped member upon which the lower end of the push rod bears. Lubricating oil is introduced within the valve lifter and upon an upstroke, in response to cam action, hydraulic pressures produced within the lifter move the cupped member upwardly against the push rod for operation of the corresponding valve. Upon a retraction of the valve lifter spring means housed within the lifter maintain the cupped member in a raised position bearing against the lower end of the push rod.

Upon occasion the cartridge-like body of a valve lifter may become frozen in position so that it no longer follows the operating cam. This malfunction may be due to an excessive rise in temperature, or the presence of foreign matter, such as gum, in the lubricating oils. In'the usual engine the upper end of a frozen valve lifter will be in a position beneath the surface of the engine block, and, consequently, is most difficult to remove.

Theinterior wall of a cartridge-like body of a lifter is encircled with a groove near the top to receive a retaining ring that prohibits removal of the cupped member from the cartridge. The present invention utilizes this groove for grasping the lifter and applying a lifting force block.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool for removal of valve lifters that contracts the lifter engaging portions upon moving the tool to within thelifter.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool for removal of valve lifters that may be manufactured economically and that comprises a minimum of parts.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a specific form in which this invention may be embodied.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation and in section of a tool embodying this invention, together with a hydraulic valve lifter seated within an engine block and an operating cam,

Fig. 2 is a side view elevation of the tool shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away and in section showing the tool resting upon the top of a valve lifter,

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of the tool shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with parts thereof in a position assumed during the insertion of the tool in a valve lifter, and

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation and in section of a portion of an automotive engine showing the tool inserted within a valve lifter with a lifting rod attached to the tool.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 fragmentary portions of an engine block 1, together with a cam shaft 2 that mounts a cam 3 for reciprocation of a valve lifter 4. The valve lifter 4 has a body 5 in the form of a circular cylindrical cartridge with a closed bottom resting upon the cam 3 and an open top. The cartridge body 5 fits snugly within the engine block 1 for guided reciprocable vertical movement.

Snugly received within the cartridge body 5 of the valve lifter 4 is a plunger 6 upon which is seated an upwardly cupped push rod seat 7 that has an oil inlet 8 passing from the cupped upper side to within the plunger due to the wedged condition-of the lip a transmittal-of a 6. The outer cylindrical face of; theplunger 6 is ringed by an oil groove 9 having a return hole 10 entering upon the interior of the plunger 6. The bottom of the plunger 6 has an outlet opening 11 beneath which is seated a check valve ball 12 held directly beneath the opening 11 by a ball retainer 13. Seated between the bottom of the plunger 6 and a flanged edge of the ball retainer 13 is a spring 14 that holds the retainer 13 against the underside of the plunger 6, and presents an upwardly directed bias force working against the plunger 6.

The inner face of the cartridge body 5 is grooved at 15 and for normal use of the valve lifter 4 a retaining ring, not shown, is disposed within the groove 15 to prohibit the push rod seat 7 and plunger 6 from working out of the cartridge body 5. In the operation of the lifter 4 the bottom end of a push rod bears against the cupped surface of the push rod seat 7. Such a push rod has an oil passage extending through its entire length from which oil runs through the oil inlet 8 to within the plunger 6. When the valve lifter 4 is in its lower position, that is, resting against the base circle of the cam 3, as shown in Fig. 1, the spring 14 raises the plunger 6 and push rod seat 7 upwardly against the lower end of the push rod to eliminate all lash clearances between the parts forming the train that operates the associated engine valve. In the event that the chamber beneath the plunger 6 is not filled with oil, the check valve ball 12 will rest in the bottom of the retainer 13 to pass oil to fill the chamber. As the rotating cam shaft 2 now carries the lobe of the earn 3 against the valve lifter 4, to raise the cartridge body 5, the check valve ball 12 will be moved upwardly to close the outlet opening 11, due to the rise in pressure that will occur within the chamber beneath the plunger 6. The plunger 6 will be moved upwardly by the hydraulic pressure beneath the same to move the push rod seat 7 against the lower end of the push rod, and thereby translate the push rod for operation of the associated engine valve. Any oil that may pass upwardly between the plunger 6 and the cartridge body 5, during the rise and fall of the lifter 4, will be gathered in the groove 9 and returned to the plunger 6 through the return hole 10.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a tool 16 in which the present invention is embodied. The tool 16 has a central body in the form of a shaft 17 threaded at its upper end and flaring radially outwardly at its lower end to form a conically shaped wedge 18. Threadedly attached to the upper end of the shaft 17 is a connector 19 with a bayonet socket 26 at its upper end. Directly beneath the connector 19 is a lock nut 21, which, when brought up tightly against the connector 19, firmly positions each with respect to the shaft 17. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 17 is a collar 22 counter sunk at its lower face to form a recess 23 that receives the upper ends of a set of three quills 24 that envelop the shaft 17. Each quill 24 has a lengthwise portion laying alongside the shaft 17, and at its lower end bells radially outwardly in flaring end 28 with an inner surface 25 presenting a contour of a portion of a cone that mates the conical shape of the wedge 18. The quills 24 are longitudinally movable with respect to the shaft 17, such that a downward movement of the quills 24 causes the flaring ends 28 to be moved radially inwardly as the surfaces 25 are moved along the wedge 18, and an upward movement of the quills 24 permits the quill ends 28 to be radially retracted as the ends 28 are raised from the wedge 18.

A split ring spring member 26 encircles the set of quills 24 and urges them radially inwardly against the shaft 17, so that the flaring ends 28 of the quills 24 bear against the wedge 18 at all times. Inserted between the lock nut 21 and the collar 22 is a coil spring 27 that urges the collar 22, and hence the quills 24, downwardly along the shaft 17 so as to move the flaring quill ends 28 along the wedge 18 to expand the quills sesame 2 radially. Each of the flaring quill ends 23 present at their outer edges a lip 29 that is adapted to fit snugly within the groove 15 on the inner wall of the cartridge body 5 of the valve lifter 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the tool 16 is disposed with the lips 29 received within the groove 15.

Extending downwardly and threadedly received in the bottom face of the wedge 13 of the shaft 17 is a long thin pin 30 of a diameter less than the oil inlet 8 and the outlet opening 11, to permit insertion within the plunger 6 for engagement with the check valve ball 12. At times, the pressure within the chamber beneath the plunger 6 is sufficiently great to forceably eject the plunger 6 and the push rod seat 7 upon removal of the retaining ring that normally fits within the groove 15, and it is desirable to reduce this pressure before attempting to remove the valve lifter 4. The pin 30 is provided for the purpose of reducing the pressure and the tool 16 may be inserted within the valve lifter 4, as a preliminary step, to bring the pin 30 downwardly upon the check valve ball 12 to open the outlet 11 for reduction of hydraulic pressure within the chamber beneath the plunger 6.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the normal position of the elements of the tool 16 is shown and it will be observed that the coil spring 27 urges the collar 22 downwardly along the shaft 17 to spread the individual quills 24! radially outwardly against the bias of the split ring spring member 26, so as to project the lips 29 to encompass a diameter greater than the opening of the cartridge body 5. For insert1on of the tool 16 it is placed atop the valve lifter 4, as shown in Fig. 2, with the flaring quill ends 28 resting atop the cartridge body 5. The connector 19 is grasped and moved downwardly, thus imparting a downward movement to the shaft 17 and its Wedge end 18. Downward travel of the wedge 18 away from the flaring quill ends 28 permits the split ring spring member 26 to radially retract the quills 24. To secure this retraction the spring member 26 is proportioned so as to exert a radially inward pressure that overcomes the frictional resistance, between the quill lips 29 and the top of the cartridge 5, that is due to the downwardly directed force of the spring 27. As the quills 24 are radially retracted there is an accompanying compression of the spring 27, and the wedge 18 of the shaft 17 descends into the cartridge body 5, as shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the quills 24 are shown radially retracted with the lips 29 about to be drawn to within a diameter less than the opening of the cartridge body 5. A continued downward motion of the connector 19 and shaft 17 will now com-. plete the radially inward retraction of the quill lips 29, and the coil spring 27 will then immediately move the collar 22 and the quills downward to insert the lips 29 Within the cartridge body 5. With the lower quill ends inserted within the cartridge body 5 the lips 29 may be easily worked into the groove 15 and the action of the coil spring 27, urging the quills 24 downwardly against the wedge 18 causes a radial expansion of the lips 29 that automatically inserts the lips 29 in the groove 15 upon proper alignment.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a portion of the engine block 1 that discloses the relative relation of the valve lifter 4 to the engine. In normal engine operation a push rod will be extended downwardly through the opening 31 with its lower end resting upon the push rod seat 7. The upper end of the push rod will be connected to the usual rocker arm that is above the portion of the engine block 1 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 the push rod has been re moved, which is a necessary preliminary step in the extraction of a valve lifter 4. Also, in Fig. 4 the toollo has been engaged with the valve lifter 4 and a lifting rod 32, that has a pin 33 at its lower end for engagement in the bayonet socket 29 at the upper end of the connector 19, is inserted through the opening 31 and connected with the tool 16. The upper end of the rod 32 is threaded and protrudes above the engine block 1 to receive .a first nut 34 brought down against the upper side of the engine block 1 and a second nut 35 that is fixed with respect to the rod 32 by a set screw, not shown. Upon holding the second nut 35 stationary and turning the first nut 34 the rod 32 is elevated for removal of the lifter 4. Thus, the lifter 4 is easily drawn up out of the engine block 1 for servicing.

The invention provides a tool particularly adapted for the removal of valve lifters from automotive engines, which tool may be easily and quickly inserted in the lifter by a simple downward motion applied to the tool body. This downward motion causes .a retraction of the radially expandable lifter gripping members of the tool, that assists in the insertion of the tool within a lifter to be ex-' tracted. As shown in Fig. 1, when the tool 16 is inserted in a valve lifter .and the quill lips 29 are firmly in the groove 15 the conical inner contour of the flaring quill ends 28 mate with the conical contour of the wedge 18. Thus, upon drawing the tool 16 upwardly the wedge 18 bears against the quills 24 with a wedging motion to urge the quills 24 into intimate contact with the side wall and groove 15 of the cartridge body 5, while imparting upward motion to the valve lifter 4. The connection be tween the tool 16 and the valve lifter 4 is rigidly maintained and the transmittal of lifting forces to the lifter 4 is ensured.

I claim:

In a tool for removing an automotive valve lifter that is open at its upper end to present a peripheral rim at the top and which has a circumferential recess in the side wall of the opening, such valve lifter being received and housed within an open bore in an engine block in which it is intended to reciprocate with a sliding fit, the combination comprising: a shaft havng a longitudnally extending cylindrical shank portion with a frusto-conical head at the lower end of the shank portion to form a wedge and with connecting means at the upper end to re ceive an extension; a set of quills circumferentially spaced about the movable longitudinally of said shaft, each quill having a lengthwise portion extending longitudinally alongside the shank portion of said shaft which terminates in an upper end spaced from said wedge and having a lower end that bells radially outward to present a peripheral lip and which overlaps said wedge to slide upon said wedge upon occurrence of a relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and quill for radial expansion and contraction of the peripheral lip; spring means necircling said quills urging the same radially inward; a fixed spring seat on said shaft disposed above said quills; a collar encircling and slidably mounted on said shaft in a position between said fixed spring seat and the upper ends of said quills, which collar has a recess on its under face that is adjacent said shaft and is defined by a longitudinal extending side wall, said recess receiving the upper ends of said quills to retain them adjacent said shaft and limit radial outward deflect-ion of the quills; and a compression spring encircling said shaft disposed between said spring seat and the upper face of said collar to urge the collar downwardly and hence to move the belled ends of said quills along said wedge to radially expand said peripheral lips and place the lips in a. position below the wedge where the diameter thereof is greater than the opening at the upper end of said valve lifter; whereby said peripheral lips may be seated upon the peripheral rim at the top of said valve lifter and said shaft may then be depressed to effect a compression of said compression spring and a downward movement of said wedge relative to said quills wherein said spring means moves the quills radially inward across the peripheral rim to radially contract said lips and allow the lips to move into a valve lifter under the downward force of said compression spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,241,819 Campbell Oct. 2, 1917 1,521,008 Clay Dec. 30, 1924 1,587,153 Hendrickson June 1, 1926 2,031,998 Bliss Feb. 25, 1936 2,215,015 Richard Sept. 17, 1940 2,609,597 Claps Sept. 9, 1952 2,671,263 Hamilton Mar. 9, 1954 2,719,747 Layne Oct. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,830 Great Britain May 21, 1914 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,883,740 April 28, 1959 William F. Derby It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification r i of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 2, line 50, before "elevation" insert in column 5 line 40, for "about the" read about and column 6, line 5, for "necircling" read encircling Signed and sealed this 8th day of December 1959 Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Oflicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

